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President Used Marijuana but Mocks & Dismisses Legalization

A former marijuana user; Obama says there will be no quarter for the herb under his reign.

Obama, after getting a laugh out of how he will not legalize marijuana. White House photo by Pete Souza

(EUGENE, Ore.) - So... Mr. Obama doesn't think that legalizing cannabis (marijuana) is a good idea and we aren't going to go there? Huh. I can't say as I'm shocked. I will say that I am disappointed.

In an online "townhall" Thursday, March 26, the President responded to an online query about legalization: "With over 1 out of 30 Americans controlled by the penal system, why not legalize, control, and tax marijuana to change the failed war on drugs into a money making, money saving boost to the economy? Do we really need that many victimless criminals?"

The reason he tackled this question is because the online community keeps asking it. Mr. Obama's answer to the question was only mockish and dismissive: "There was one question that voted on that ranked fairly high and that was whether legalizing marijuana would improve the economy and job creation," he said. "And I don't know what this says about the online audience, but ... this was a popular question. We want to make sure it's answered. The answer is no, I don't think that's a good strategy to grow our economy. All right."

But, as any student of drug policy knows, pot's Prohibition is based solely on racist fantasies and never has science or social sense been a factor. The banning of cannabis actually is codified racism and xenophobia, which of course makes it very much a civil rights issue. Pete Guither over at Drug War Rant has an excellent primer, Why is Marijuana Illegal?

I advise anyone under-educated on the subject read it. I'm not sure if the President realizes that he is now engaged -- whether he likes it or not -- in the discussion about legalizing cannabis and that his dismissal will not go unchallenged. And well it should be challenged.

Just recently the President made this declaration: "Promoting science isn't just about providing resources, it is also about protecting free and open inquiry," Obama said. "It is about letting scientists like those here today do their jobs, free from manipulation or coercion, and listening to what they tell us, even when it's inconvenient especially when it's inconvenient. It is about ensuring that scientific data is never distorted or concealed to serve a political agenda and that we make scientific decisions based on facts, not ideology."

OK. And what if we apply that statement to the question of legalizing cannabis? If we applied the truth today, pot would be legal by Monday. Virtually every study done by our government -- including Richard Nixon's Schaeffer Commission -- has called for no less than the decriminalization of cannabis.

From the late 19th century India Hemp Commission, to the LaGuardia Report from the '40s to the end of the 20th century's report from the Drug Enforcement Administration's chief administrative law judge Francis Young (who called cannabis "one of the safest therapeutic substances known to man"), the legacy of pot studies demands legalization.

As a former pot smoker himself, the President should realize that while his pot smoking didn't disqualify him as a candidate for the highest office in the land, a conviction surely would have.

Every day in the United States 99 people an hour are arrested for pot. Nearly a million people a year. Now that is a lot of police time, court time and sometimes jail time that we pay for.

And what is the goal of this prohibition again? Do we believe Prohibition II has stopped anyone from trying pot?

When Mr. Obama said, "It is about ensuring that scientific data is never distorted or concealed to serve a political agenda and that we make scientific decisions based on facts, not ideology" does he realize that is exactly what IS happening with cannabis? Does he know that the government has known since 1974 that pot has great potential as a cancer fighter and that the National Institute of Health report from that study was buried until the end of the 1990s?

Is he aware that in federal marijuana cases defendants are denied the right to mention their medical use, because the federal government says "there is no medical use."

A policy, Mr President, that exists in spite of the fact the US Government is the sole legal supplier of medical cannabis in the US and that they distribute this medical cannabis to the 4 remaining patients enrolled in the Compassionate Investigational New Drug program.

A policy that exists in spite of the fact that our government holds US Patent 6630507, "Cannabinoids as antioxidants and neuroprotectants." If you are going to acknowledge your own pot use Mr. President you have to realize that the myth of the lazy stoner (and just for good measure let's add Michael Phelps and Carl Sagan to the equation) is now decimated - literally blown out of the water.

The cat is out the bag sir. Pot Prohibition is a lie, the Controlled Substances Act is a lie and the war on pot has absolutely, undeniably failed. And if you don't believe me? Ask one of the many former or current criminal justice professionals who comprise the core of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP).

If a Seattle Police Chief is qualified to be the head of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, certainly some of those former police chiefs, narcotics officers, prosecutors and judges who are the driving force behind LEAP deserve to join the drug policy discussion as equals to those representatives of anti-drug organizations who (up until now) hold a inequitably dominant share at the drug policy table.

All comments and messages are approved by people and self promotional links or unacceptable comments are denied.

allen July 17, 2013 1:32 pm (Pacific time)

Jailing citizens is a laughing matter, apparently. What a disapointing jerk.

pot is good November 8, 2009 2:26 pm (Pacific time)

if you actually can read youd see that the government has no real reason to keep it illeagal, what if we said that they should legalize it not on economical grounds. but how about because its a plant and only a plant so how can you make one of god's creations illegal? btw f u obama im stoned right now

Pot is bad November 2, 2009 2:02 pm (Pacific time)

You guys are all a batch of hypocrite stoners. Pot is bad for you.

Editor: Where have you been? We have run so many informative articles about this, marijuana has endless healthcare applications. The research proves you wrong friend.

eduman May 11, 2009 4:59 pm (Pacific time)

PEOPLE IN THAILAND ARE KILLE DFOR SMOKING MARIJUANA. THIS IS AN OUTRAGE WE AMERICANS MUST LEGALIZE MARIJUANA AND SET AN EXAMPLE FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD.

videomon April 19, 2009 11:40 am (Pacific time)

We in Canada are especially screwed due to our nasty neighbours.
Here is good avice for both countries. Jury nullification.
http://juror.ca

OntarioWorks April 15, 2009 6:22 am (Pacific time)

Canada has tabled new legislation to try and decriminalize marijuana. It's still not even decriminalized in Canada, though we look at the whole issue differently. Our police budgets are still massive and that's what it is all about: oil, forestry, law enforcement, etc. all keeping their revenues flowing by turning off the tap to cannabis. Nothing will likely change, but at least someone is trying over here
www.ontarioworks.info

oprina tiberiu April 14, 2009 1:17 pm (Pacific time)

I do not know what many of you think but the subject of marijuana/cannabis legalization is a thorny one indeed. Although pot is widely used, almost as much as cofee/alcohol/tabacco. . An interesting site I have found on this subject is http://LegalPot.com. If you wanna know more about this topic visit this link (i liked the section on growing your own pot a LOT).

Dave April 8, 2009 10:54 pm (Pacific time)

I am a Vietnam veteran and I have smoked marijuana for close to 44 years. It soothes some of the pain in my body. In the state I live in; if I were in so much pain that I needed a prescription for morphine - a doctor would write it for me. If I were in the shape that I need a prescription for cocaine - a doctor would write it for me. BUT I CAN NOT GET A PRESCRIPTION FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA. No, I am stuck with synthetic drugs like seroquel. It is hard to tell what it is doing to me. It keeps me from off'ing myself. I see there is a class action lawsuit against seroquel in Europe. I have not heard of any lawsuits against marijuana.
I'm sure that the "Change" most of people in this country would like to see is A government that will stop lying to it's citizens. After the last eight years I have had enough of the lies. Marijuana became illegal because of lies. Prohibition did not work in the 1920's. And it is not going to work today. You have killings of innocent people. People battling for control of other people. I think that an elementary student can see that taxation and control such as tobacco and alcohol by our government would be a lot better. After all Portugal has legalized it and every thing is going fine. It is time we quit kicking this dead horse.

Phil E. Drifter April 8, 2009 12:49 am (Pacific time)

"A policy, Mr. President, that cost Peter McWilliams his life." More than just Peter McWilliams life; I know of at least 2 other people who were killed not by cannabis, but by the war on (some) drugs: Jonathan Magbie, who was quadriplegic since about 6 years old because he was a passenger in a car struck by a drunk driver (http://www.november.org/thewall/cases/magbie-j/JonathanMagbie.jpg) and was jailed for 10 days against the wishes of even the prosecution, but the (cvnt) judge decided to 'teach him a lesson' where he choked to death on his own vomit in his jail cell without adequate care, and Rachel Hoffman, who was coerced by police into becoming a snitch without being allowed access to a lawyer first, and it got her killed. Read the rest at victims dot drugwarrant dot com .

Phil E. Drifter April 7, 2009 4:18 pm (Pacific time)

We do NOT want marijuana use increasing among children. Seriously, think about it. Did you have a bowl of stupid for breakfast? It's easier for kids to get it now BECAUSE it's illegal. Drug dealers don't card their customers. It's easier for kids to get pot than it is for them to get alcohol or tobacco. Why is that? Because alcohol and tobacco are regulated! Stores would face tens of thousands of dollars in fines if they sold to minors. DURRRRRRRRRR

cjfilms April 6, 2009 3:35 pm (Pacific time)

I hear this argument that they should legalize pot to increase the tax revenue.The only problem is that the oil medical tabbacco alcohol and textile industries would loose money if hemp were brought back into the market and as we all know these industries have been padding the pockets of politicians for years.I was a hillary suporter who voted for obama i did have a faint hope that he would be different and if he were truly different he would not be supporting the failed unjust war against cannibus hemp especially since he himself smoked pot and continues to smoke ciggarets today i guess obama is showing his true colors.and if you think i am anti obama just check any of my other posts anywhere online to see how much i have defended him shit i even got people to vote for him.now i just feel dumb because i suported a hipocrite.

Anonymous April 1, 2009 12:54 pm (Pacific time)

i think that its bull because if you could tax weed then it would a great money makin process and there are so many people that smoke it would probly be and end to the economic deppresion that we are in. Hows that Obama

Daniel March 30, 2009 9:26 pm (Pacific time)

Closer to home oregon reps are introducing a Bill HB 3274 that is taking the plants cultivation from the patient and giving it to the state . Patients will have to PAY A $98 TAX per oz when they buy it from state sanctioned pharmacies PLUS the pharmacies fees !!! The state will also CONTROL THE POTENCY. NO MORE HOME GROWING FOR MEDICAL ! Please check this bill out on google type in HB 3274 oregon . Contact your OREGON rep on this bill . Only patients can buy the herb , this will NOT legalize for NON medical , just take it from the patient and give it to the State to control and tax them .

long hair redneck March 30, 2009 5:56 pm (Pacific time)

I was just wondering do you beleive, he was doing anything more than getting your vote ??????

WeedCapitalist March 30, 2009 5:21 pm (Pacific time)

I'll tell you what, if they decriminalize it, I'll be the first guy on the block serving eighths of cannabis cup winners for 5 bucks tax free. ( quadruple to 8x the price if we are subjected to taxes and regulation )

BG March 29, 2009 1:59 pm (Pacific time)

public outrage!! we need more of it on this issue!! keep up the good work,keep educating the ignorent and naive!!
also keep in mind that he IS placing some of the right people in the right places,who,if truth prevails,will only prove our side righteous and true.

Obama'sHandsAreTied March 30, 2009 4:47 pm (Pacific time)

Obama is trying to show his followers the truth with this move, that he is nothing but a powerless phoney. That guy wouldn't know freedom if it jumped up bit him in the yamika. He seems like a pretty cool guy though. Prolly be a nice dude to sit down and smoke a blunt with, but he ain't no JFK.

Will March 30, 2009 2:40 pm (Pacific time)

The online community Mr. Obama refers to is the same community that put millions of dollars and millions of hours into getting him elected. They offer him an opportunity to make back some of the trillions of dollars he has blown in less than 90 days in office, and what does he do? He scoffs at the idea and shuns millions of his supporters.
Obama has no plan whatsoever to make any of the money he's spent back. As it stands, the younger generations (i.e. the ONLINE COMMUNITY) are the ones who will pay for Obamas bill yet he refuses to listen to them when they try and have an honest discussion about moving a multi-billion dollar industry out of the hands of criminals and into the pockets of our government.

Hannibal March 30, 2009 2:03 pm (Pacific time)

I like seeing more stories today about legalization. The issue seems to have received a kick in the pants. However, is this all just talk or is this ever really going to go anywhere? Most of us agree, something needs to happen NOW. CNN poll showed 95% in favor of legalization. But, will it really happen?

Brian Kerr March 30, 2009 1:56 pm (Pacific time)

If I could buy a oz of GOOD weed for lets say 50 dollars.
Why would I want to grow my own poor quality weed?
It may be easy to plant a seed but it is not easy or cheep to grow truly good weed.
It would be much easer and I would get better results if I just purchase my weed in a legal weed store.
I am certainly not going to stop using Cannabis, regardless of the law.

lokis March 30, 2009 12:41 pm (Pacific time)

one of the worse things Pres. Uncle Tom causes remains the affect on other toady countries like mine - Kanada would have legal pot tomorrow and the DEA and other thugs would be at our borders searching everythng and everybody until trade came to a standstill - of course if we stopped the flow of oil ( we are by far your biggest supplier) maybe we could avoid an invasion. Gotta puff one now....

caddawg March 29, 2009 10:12 pm (Pacific time)

This article and everyone's comments are some of the best reading I've had on the response to President Obama's comment on legalizing marijuana. We need to get our pig headed politicians to read this article and the comments. I heard that the presidents press secretary after being questioned by the press about the presidents avoidance of the marijuana question, stated that possibly the questions and votes for the questions had been manipulated by special interest groups. What we need to do is send letters directly to the politicians letting them know that we the so called special interest groups, are actual voters.

Quaker Mom March 29, 2009 8:25 pm (Pacific time)

"An unjust law is itself a species of violence. Arrest for its breach is more so.”
Mahatma Gandhi

Joel March 29, 2009 8:22 pm (Pacific time)

You guys know that in Lord of the Rings the pipe weed is really weed... just a FYI.. Kids saw hobbits smoking pot and being happy and hungry! Arrest Peter Jackson for this outrage!

DHM March 29, 2009 6:58 pm (Pacific time)

A very interesting piece. Good writing, as well. I guess we now know whether Obama and Co. will really bring us change. Just another big hypocrite. Snickering like a damn kid - he owes us a major apology.

What?? March 29, 2009 4:35 pm (Pacific time)

Allan Erickson Salem-News.com
Allan,
You're probably dissapointed too that there are lobbists in the administration, that there were earmarks in the stimulus package, more troops are headed to Afganistan, etc.
Did anyone really believe Obama was telling it to you straight before the election?

In response to: March 29, 2009 2:17 pm (Pacific time)

Mike: I think you are looking at this from the wrong angle-hear me out-"Also, It's difficult for a government to tax and make money from something that's so extrordinarily easy to grow yourself indoors or in a back garden. Unfortunately the mooted economic benefits of legalizing Marijuana are exaggerated."--If simply decriminalized (in law, or by a fiat policy of non enforcement of a bunk law, though less so in the latter play) the value and price, would drop dramatically,(as the quality would increase simultaneously) leaving people with more money in their pockets to spend or save in the legitimate taxable economy. The cannabis businessmen could lose some very lucrative profits percentage wise in exchange for their safety, long term security and freedom, losers would fail and have to get real jobs and the government could force the successful distributers, if any, to pay income tax like any other industry, no more no less. What I call the "hidden prohibition tax" on the price of marijuana is around a 90% artificial price inflation in my humble estimation.

Harry J Anslinger March 29, 2009 2:03 pm (Pacific time)

Well written.

WhatAboutHemp March 29, 2009 1:48 pm (Pacific time)

You're telling me this guy is even against industrial HEMP??? Super Square!

Daniel March 29, 2009 1:26 pm (Pacific time)

If the whole US had the awareness of the benefits of hemp , as a number of us in the north west do , it would be legalized . Unfortunately out side of our bubble the country is full of ignorance ! This can be witnessed by the audience response to the question . The main stream media still run so called experts who are very anti-pot . If legalization was an easy slam dunk Obama would be all over it . The reality is their are still vast numbers of people who need to be educated . If Obama was the supreme controller he could snap his fingers and make it happen , the reality is he has to deal with a number of politicians from the left to the right of both parties to make anything happen . Unfortunately many represent those who have a very negative view of legalization . Carter had a good chance but Hamilton Jordan blew it with his club coking and bringing too much heat on the drug issue . Obama is are best hope from the time of Carter to decriminalize , but now is too charged of a time with a very controversial budget and agenda to push thru . After Obama cleans up some of the enormous mess Bush left the country and world with i will put his feet to the fire on this issue . All of us who are aware of the benefits of the hemp plant should continue to educate others on this issue .

thump March 29, 2009 11:38 am (Pacific time)

Obama has taken the typical easy way out. He has said they won't send the feds after medical marijuana users. What he hasn't done is addressed the issue meaning that the next POTUS could reinstate it all over again.
We already know the prohibition against marijuana isn't working. We're making criminals just as fast as we can with the three strikes law ensuring at some point they will be spending far more time in jail at taxpayers expense.
We also know the war on drugs has failed. You can go to any small town in the US and chances are better than not you will find it already there. So we are throwing around our tax money like there is no end to it.
Speaking of taxes, they are already extremely high, so much so that you are taxed when you earn it and then receive a double hit when you spend it on the same funds.
With all the deficit that is going to be racking up, there is no doubt that our taxes will be yet higher for many years to come.
Politicians are constantly looking for new tax sources. Sin taxes only mean in the end that less will use them where the cost is a major consideration such as being poor or jobless. So raising those taxes has a net effect of lowering tax income, leaving them right back where they started at, looking for tax sources.
Here is the darling, as yet untaxed, second largest black market economy in the state of California, going by begging for being a source.
In the end, marijuana will become taxable and legal, it's not if, it's when. The main problem at present is that there is not enough younger generations in office but it comes over time.
Funding for prisons, in which the US has one of the largest prison populations on the planet, is going to need addressing. There is already over crowding in our prisons to the point that judges are starting to order states and cities to reduce their prison populations because of overcrowding, meaning that we need ever yet more facilities as the politicians do not want to appear weak on crime. The marijuana issue has become over kill and not worth the present. In 2003 we spent $600 dollars a second of the effort. The war on drugs is costing us roughly $40 billion a year in prison costs, legal court costs, and the funding of a war that isn't working.
It's time for a change.

Pat Rogers March 29, 2009 10:36 am (Pacific time)

Two points.
ONE. Americans who supported Obama mistakenly thinking that he would reform America's drug laws should consider downloading voter registration forms and changing your registration from Democrat to Independent, Green or Libertarian. The Democrats do not respect your anti drug war social justice values and so you should not allow them to continue to misrepresent your vote.
TWO. The only thing that will get America's authoritarian drug warriors in the Democrats and Republicans to change the Jim Crow drug war policy is to get masses of Americas out in the streets of Washington, D.C. and state capitals screaming at them:
NO MORE DRUG WAR!
NO MORE DRUG WAR!

JSN March 29, 2009 9:30 am (Pacific time)

Barack Hussein Obama smoked it.
George Walker Bush smoked it.
William Jefferson Clinton ate hash brownies.
At least one child of George Herbert Walker Bush smoked it.
At least one child of Ronald Wilson Reagan smoked it.
So of course it should be illegal. And we should send th DEA to comb the corridors of Harvard and Yale.

March 28, 2009 5:52 pm (Pacific time)

Marijuana will be decriminalized!! A step in the right direction!!

XX March 29, 2009 10:21 am (Pacific time)

He obviously adressed this totally wrong... It is a difficult subject for the PRESIDENT to talk about bc there are so many uneducated idiots in America that do not know anything about canabis, yet hate on it bc of the "lazy stoner" image it has portrayed in the past. STUPID move by Obama, but considering he has so much on his agenda (numero uno being the economy) he doesnt even want to go there. All the people laughing their ass off in the video are douches.

Keith March 29, 2009 10:14 am (Pacific time)

How pathetic. Obama won't change a goddamn thing. He'll do the exact same things every politician has ever done, in the name of retaining and growing the power of the executive branch.
It's truly up to the states to push any sort of real reform, cus Obama is a sniveling tool.

Henry Ruark March 29, 2009 9:00 am (Pacific time)

To all:
"The only way to beat organized money is with organized people" --Saul Alinsky.
Many will recognize him as community organizer worldfamed for his success not only in Chicago but in many other very difficult,desperate situations of his time, long before O showed up.
S/A is anathema to the Far Right and same dollar-driven now desperately-attacking-O tribe of perps who were target center for Alinsky then.

CartelHeads March 29, 2009 8:48 am (Pacific time)

Thanks mr. obama for protecting our cash flow stream, as you know we are some of the biggest investors in america. As you also know the marijuana industry is where we receive around half of our income.

Mike March 29, 2009 8:42 am (Pacific time)

Thank God. Bravo, Obama. Marijuana is easy enough to get if you want it, why d you people think we should legalize it and send a message to children that it's okay? We do NOT want marijuana use increasing among children. Seriously, think about it.

Albert March 29, 2009 7:36 am (Pacific time)

Arrest the President! He's openly admitted to using cannabis and cocaine which is a criminal act. Mabe he'll change his mind on this matter in jail. Hypocrisy!

Enough is enough March 29, 2009 7:34 am (Pacific time)

Lets stop the insanity of releasing violent criminals to make room for locking up non violent individuals.

Common Sense March 29, 2009 7:33 am (Pacific time)

Talk to your neighbors and elected officials. It is time to stop this insanity of releasing violent offenders to make room for mandatory sentenced non violent pot smokers. Did we not learn from alcohol prohibition? Marijuana prohibition has been a disaster. Redirect our law enforcement resources towards violent crimes and save financial resources currently used to combat marijuana and our society would be a far better place.

Rubblebeam March 29, 2009 7:32 am (Pacific time)

I agree that O is our best hope, he said he is a big beleiver in persistance, so let's use his own guideing principals to demand that de-criminalize this useful plant.

nice article March 29, 2009 6:47 am (Pacific time)

I don't believe it's correct that a marijuana conviction would have disqualified Obama. After all, George W. Bush had a DUI conviction and still was allowed to become president. Good job pointing out the hypocrisy though, Obama clearly doesn't give a **** about all the supporters who wasted their time getting him into office. Hopefully they realize that now.

odd March 29, 2009 6:42 am (Pacific time)

He probably raised more then 80 % of his money for this election "online". He's really turned his back on the very supporters. And this isn't a case of saying something but doing something else. The DEA is still doing raids in California

Mike March 29, 2009 4:59 am (Pacific time)

Obama simply states that he doesn't think it is a good strategy to grow the economy. Ultimately he may aim to legalize it, but right now in tough economic times he knows it would just add massive instability to a number of vulnerable markets. Also, It's difficult for a government to tax and make money from something that's so extrordinarily easy to grow yourself indoors or in a back garden. Unfortunately the mooted economic benefits of legalizing Marijuana are exaggerated. Stick to the moral reasons.

Anonymous March 29, 2009 3:54 am (Pacific time)

He did not say that he was going to prosecute it, or that he was opposed to legalization. The question was that 'did he think it would stimulate the economy' that he said No to. He may have meant it more as 'This is not the only thing that will completely save the economy, so until it is more stabilized I'm going to pursue more definite fixes. Legalizing Marijuana will help, but it will also be a complete clusterfuck at first. It will require a whole new set of laws regulating what age it can be bought, penalties for businesses that sell, what tax rate, shipping across country/state lines, and all of that would take time away that he would need to work on the economy, the wars, and other things.
I believe that he does intend to legalize it, but at this juncture it is not the most important issue. He's using all the political capital he has right now to pass the stimulus and other necessary bills, he'll have to build up quite a bit before he can push Legalization through.

Leon March 29, 2009 12:54 am (Pacific time)

Our country is run by a cabal. These politicians are the gangster front end and they don't work for americans. Ours is still a slave nation, our will is ignored and scoffed at. We are lied to and raped daily for the sake of the upper class. And we just sit here and take it day after day. Democrat, republican...both two sides of the criminal elite that is fleecing us, taxing us illegally, poisoning us in the media and supermarket, imprisoning us etc. How much longer are we going to take it?

Double Standard March 28, 2009 10:35 pm (Pacific time)

Question to Mr. President. Do you think people should be made "criminals" for the same things you've admitted to doing yourself?

Observer March 28, 2009 9:49 pm (Pacific time)

In 1969 my friends and I, all in our early 20's, discussed the legalization of marijuana, and decided that surely it would be legal in 20 years - and that was 40 years ago...
In less than ten years from that initial discussion (1977), the President of the USA (Carter) called for the decriminalization of pot... Obama isn't even going that far.
My fear is that legalization won't happen in the USA in 20 years, and that 40 years from now young adults will still be asking why not...

chris johnson March 28, 2009 9:25 pm (Pacific time)

One could actually put forth the argument that he lost political capitol with this latest stunt.

Jonny March 28, 2009 9:21 pm (Pacific time)

Great points. There is not one rational reason for why marijuana should be illegal. When you look at the facts legalization becomes so clearly the right choice that it becomes mind boggling that someone could think otherwise.

Henry Ruark March 28, 2009 8:23 pm (Pacific time)

Patience is name of game with few realizing massive muscle of allathose now making out very well from current status via heavy facts of futile pursuit, courts,and jail.
Give O chance to move as demanded, time to remove also as demanded, growing powers to persuade and persist --then see where we come out.
Anyone ever facing "massive muscle" as mentioned in real change-action understands one doth not tear down decades of political patronage overnight.
NDEA started year before anything in D.C., took year there, passed after complex final effort months-long...

sicktomygut March 28, 2009 8:16 pm (Pacific time)

the war on drugs has killed more, destroyed more lives and families than anything else and he makes a joke of it. Truth is the powers that be make more money under the table on the drugs than the cartels!

DrNosePickens March 28, 2009 7:48 pm (Pacific time)

really mr. devil's advocate cause almost 40% of his supporter are calling him a coward. I guess it's a moniker of your long winded babble.

Ralph March 28, 2009 7:34 pm (Pacific time)

So let me get this straight. We're supposed to believe the politicians, who stand responsible for our current financial meltdown. When will Americans start demanding that our politicians listen. I'm not saying legalizing pot is a good idea, but the old party line thats being touted by our political elite, is getting very annoying. Why can't someone come up with a solution that will actually make sense, or work for that matter?

devil's advocate March 28, 2009 6:12 pm (Pacific time)

So do you want him to sacrifice his political position in order to support legalization? The reality is that he will work for sane policy but he must put forth a certain posture in order to maintain viability. Have faith and speak up at the same time! Political pragmatism is ignored at one's own peril.

Anonymous March 28, 2009 5:54 pm (Pacific time)

Marijuana will be decriminalized for the casual user, personal grower. A step in the right direction.

Behold the great One March 28, 2009 5:19 pm (Pacific time)

Watch the video and tell me this guy isn't the very DEFINITION of a snob elitist. He prolly still burns, but there's a different set of laws now for el duche the great hope and his buddies, and for the serfs. What do you not understand about that pions?